MH17 tributes in Moscow: 'Forgive us'

[William769]

Source: CNN

Moscow (CNN) -- Outside the Dutch Embassy in Moscow, people have left flowers and cuddly toys at a makeshift memorial for the lives lost in a conflict-scarred corner of eastern Ukraine.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 fell from the sky in Donetsk on Thursday, killing all aboard. Of the 298 people killed, 193 -- nearly two-thirds -- were Dutch citizens.

The United States accuses Moscow of supporting the pro-Russian rebels that it suspects shot down the aircraft.

Russia denies involvement, with Russian President Vladimir Putin saying Ukraine's military operation against the rebels is to blame for the tragedy. He has called for a "thorough and objective" investigation.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/21/world/europe/ukraine-malaysia-moscow-embassy/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

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The tributes at the Dutch Embassy in Moscow include a hand-drawn picture of a plane broken in midair with the caption "children should not die," in a child's handwriting.

Another message reads: "We are afraid, we are ashamed, we are in mourning."

While the official Russian position is that Russia played no role and has no responsibility for the crash, what's striking in many of the notes is the use of the phrase "forgive us."

The messages give a sense that the people who have left them do feel that Russia has an element of responsibility in what is playing out in eastern Ukraine.

[DeSwiss]

1. Leave some flowers at the embassies of these women and children's countries a well.

It's women, kids and babies.

- Bringing Democracy to people is dangerous......

[William769]

6. So no comment on this one? Very telling. nt

[herding cats]

2. I saw some of these the other day.

This one stuck with me.

"In our country there are a lot of good people who love other people. Forgive us for all the rest."



More from Buzzfeed.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/miriamelder/russians-are-leaving-flowers-at-the-dutch-embassy-in-moscow

[William769]

3. Putin sure has put his people in a bad position.

[herding cats]

7. That he has.

These signs at the embassy remind me of what we did with the "I'm Sorry" signs on the internet during the height of the Iraq war.

[William769]

8. Agreed.

[Cha]

21. Like we were during the bush cheney coup. :(

[Nitram]

25. Putin has put some people in a bad position?

I'll say. Every person who was on board that airliner.

[freshwest]

14. Americans would say the same thing. Very well expressed and shows a good heart:

"In our country there are a lot of good people who love other people. Forgive us for all the rest."

Thanks for adding that.

[herding cats]

20. I agree with you about Americans.

It's the reason that one sticks in my mind. I'm also reminded of the protest which took place in Russia during and after the last election. I can relate to how many citizens there may be feeling right now.

[BeyondGeography]

4. The people are better than their government

We should know the feeling.

[sheshe2]

9. So many tears...

How many more tears do we have left to cry before we are dry inside.



a light for those souls that are finally coming home. may they rest in peace, William.

[William769]

10. That is very sweet sheshe.

[lobodons]

11. Its not you, but your leader

Just like America had to when Bush was in office. Forgive us World for the War Crimes of our leader.

[geek tragedy]

12. if only such people held power, there would be nothing to apologize for nt

[freshwest]

13. I think it's a good thing.

[awoke_in_2003]

15. K&R

ours in not the only government that does things its people doesn't like.

[AnnieBW]

16. The Russian People are Kind and Warmhearted

Their government, not so much.

[Amonester]

18. They have their own trigger-happy, gun-loving asswipes, like everywhere else, but...

these violent morons who don't have any respect for other humans constitute a relatively small minority, like everywhere else.

[IronGate]

26. Yes they are.

I spent a year in Moscow on a Firefighter exchange program and the ordinary Russians I met, Firefighters and Muscovites, were some of the most wonderful people I've ever had a chance to intermingle with.

[davidpdx]

17. It is very moving that some in Russia realize what their government is up to

and believe it should stop.

[Cha]

22. I agree, david... I posted this on Saturday..

Julia Ioffe @juliaioffe Follow

Muscovites leaving flowers and candles by the Dutch embassy in #Moscow. One note says “Forgive us."

5:45 PM - 17 Jul 2014
154 Retweets 53 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/07/17/smile-it-helps/
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5264875

[Historic NY]

19. Interesting what the Russian populations thinks.

"I think there's lot of proof that we're in closer relations and connections with the separatists in Ukraine. I suppose it's clearly understood that we support them by providing weapons, and so I think it doesn't matter who launched that rocket. Just because we're supporting terrorists, we're involved."

Paying his condolences at the embassy, Muscovite Yuri Yemshanov told CNN it was "difficult to recognize that our country could be involved in this accident."

[Cha]

23. Thanks so poignant.. mahalo Historic NY

[Cha]

24. Mahalo for this. William.. I posted one lone one that I saw on Saturday and now there's more!

Julia Ioffe @juliaioffe Follow

Muscovites leaving flowers and candles by the Dutch embassy in #Moscow. One note says “Forgive us."

5:45 PM - 17 Jul 2014
154 Retweets 53 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2014/07/17/smile-it-helps/

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5264875

[William769]

27. And now they won't be ab;e to protest that asshole Putin.

What a way to become a dicktator.